Cessna 170A accident near Maricopa, Arizona, April 10, 2025
On April 10, 2025 at about 7:07 pm local time, a 1951 Cessna 170A, registered N1371D, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Maricopa, Arizona (Ak-Chin Rgnl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2025 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Maricopa, Arizona · Ak-Chin Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A, built 1951 · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N1371D · registry record · serial 19947
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On April 10, 2025, at 1207 mountain standard time, a Cessna 170A, N1371D, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had purchased the tailwheel equipped airplane a couple of days before the accident. He had hired a flight instructor while at Montgomery-Gibbs Field Executive Airport (MYF), San Diego, California, and performed several landings prior to departing for the cross-country flight to Florida. The pilot stated that he had planned a fuel stop at Ak-Chin Regional Airport (A39), Maricopa, Arizona. While on final approach to land at A39, he aborted the first landing due to not being properly aligned with the runway. On the second landing, the approach was stable, and he performed a 3-point landing. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right, and the right wing contacted the runway surface, while he was correcting with rudder inputs. Subsequently, the airplane veered left, exited the runway, and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that witnesses at the airport stated that the right main landing gear failed after the airplane touched down on the runway. The pilot added that the right main landing gear wheel and axle assembly had separated. Additionally, when he walked the runway, he observed a skid mark from the right tire on the runway prior to where the wheel assembly had separated. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged. The airplane was recovered for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: MYF San Diego CA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 04/2, 4,751 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KA39
Weather report (METAR): METAR KA39 101855Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 32/M06 A3015 RMK AO2=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.